Trustees

In 2018, the trustees asked Dr Sara Ryan to be MLMC’s first ever charity patron.  Sara is a long time supporter of MLMC and is well known nationally in the learning disability sector. Her role is to help expand the reach of our campaign work, spread our networks, and help the trustees to represent the charity at the highest level.

Michael founded MLMC in 1998, and for the past 27 years has been a champion of the rights of people with a learning disability and an active trustee of the organisation.

In April 2017 the charity’s membership voted for Michael to be made the lifetime President of MLMC. Michael was awarded an MBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honors for his services to people with learning disabilities.

We are unique in the UK in that all our trustees have learning disabilities. The trustees meet every quarter and are responsible for making all of the big decisions about My Life My Choice.

This is Lucy’s second time being on the Jobs and Money team after being voted in again. She regularly attends the Banbury and Young People’s group, and loves to come along to Gig Buddy events. Lucy decided to become a trustee to be a voice for young people and women with a learning disability. She wants to help other people find their voice, because she says My Life My Choice has helped her find hers, and now she can’t stop speaking up!

This is Ady’s fifth year as a trustee and fourth as Co-Chair, and he has lots of experience at My Life My Choice. He is a regular Travel Buddy, works on the Stingray management team and is a regular attendee of the Oxford group and Champions group. One of his highlights from 2025 was attending Glastonbury for the very first time and speaking on the left-field stage about cuts to disability benefits.

This is Mick’s fourth year being a trustee and third on the Jobs and Money team. He is an experienced Travel Buddy and regularly supports the security team at Stingray nightclub. He would like to see the charity grow further and support us to see another 25 years!

This is Nathan’s first time being a trustee. He co-leads our walk and talk event every month, he co-facilitates the games club, he is a Campaigns Champion, is another experienced Travel Buddy, and also supports the security team at Stingray nightclub. As an active events attender he would love to see MLMC have more events!

Abul is a long-time member of My Life My Choice and has been a trustee before. He is a Campaigns Champion and supports Quality Checks. He also has a Gig Buddy who he loves going out with regularly.

Andy has been a member of My Life My Choice for many years. He is an experienced Travel Buddy trainer and loves to help people in his community. As a trustee, Andy would like to support members with any discrimination they face.

Ben has been Co-Chair of the trustees before for years and was involved in many of our different projects, such as Gig Buddies, Champions, and Travel Buddy. He is busy now working in a paid job as the Service Quality Director working with people with learning disabilities at the Camden Society. He has also been on the Council of Governors at Oxford Health for the last five years. His biggest achievement was representing MLMC and giving the acceptance speech when we won at the Charity Awards in 2023.

Charlene is an experienced trustee. She is a qualified Travel Buddy and regularly attends Stingray and Gig Buddy social events.

David is fairly new to MLMC, and this is his first time being a trustee. In his short time, he has co-facilitated one of our Self Advocacy Groups, worked at Stingray Nightclub and is training to be a Travel Buddy. He would like to increase our young adults membership and events attendance!

Hayley is quite new to MLMC, and this is her first time being a trustee. She is part of the Young Adults Group, attends lots of our events and is a Travel Buddy. Hayley would like to increase our membership so we can keep getting bigger!

Katherine is quite new to MLMC, and this is her first time being a trustee. She is part of the Bicester Group and wants to help MLMC grow.

Liam has been a member of MLMC for many years and has been a trustee before. He is a Travel Buddy trainer and in his own time helps people with learning disabilities by keeping their gardens nice and tidy, cutting the grass and pulling out weeds. Liam wants to help people make friends and make the most of MLMC.

Tom has been a member of MLMC for a long time and this is his second time being a Trustee. He regularly attends our social events and meets up with his Gig Buddy. He is also an Oliver McGowan trainer. Tom wants to help other people and make a difference!

Will has been a member of MLMC for a while now, but this is his first time being a trustee. He has a Gig Buddy who he meets up with often to watch the football or go to the theatre. Will would like MLMC to hold more events!

The trustee helpers provide advice and support to the trustees and help them to make the big decisions. Trustees may ask the trustee helper for additional advice and assistance. On occasions, a trustee helper may also be asked to provide guidance to the Charity Coordinator.

Ann has been a social worker and commissioner, working with adults who have learning disabilities for many years. She has worked with MLMC in lots of different ways, and was delighted to become a trustee helper in 2014.

Jan says: “I am proud to be a Trustee helper at My Life My Choice. I have supported self-advocacy in England almost since it began, in the 1980s. I believe that self-advocacy is more important than ever in a world where people with learning disabilities are too often left to manage with very little support or companionship.”

Jacqui is a Social Worker who has worked with adults with a learning disability for most of her working life. She believes self-advocacy is very important to make sure people’s voices are heard as many places as possible. She is delighted to be a trustee helper.